Tag: sefton council

Sefton Council is delighted to celebrate the official launch of Sefton’s Year of Friendship 2019.

A recent launch event was held at Waterloo Community Centre highlighted the positive impact friendships have on peoples’ lives. Over recent years there has been an increase in loneliness within certain groups across Sefton, which has a detrimental impact on health and well-being.

Sefton Carers Centre is a dynamic, local charity providing an extensive range of services to unpaid carers in Sefton. We also provide support services to Direct Payment clients in Sefton. Our vision is a world in which the role and contribution of unpaid carers is recognised and valued and where they have access to support and services of the quality that they need to live their own lives.

We currently have an exciting opportunity to join our Senior Management Team and help drive the quality and impact of the services we provide to unpaid carers and direct payment clients in Sefton. The role is offered on a permanent basis.

Sefton CVS are asking local voluntary, community and faith sector groups to nominate an individual or a team within the local authority who have demonstrated the key principles of the New Realities Partnership Agreement and provided help or support to local non-profit organisations.

The New Realities Partnership Award will go to the individual or team that have adopted a ‘can-do’ attitude when working with voluntary, community or faith sector groups.

Demonstrated a positive ‘can-do’ attitude when working with a local group or organisation

Providing assistance in overcoming a barrier or obstacle that would otherwise impact on the group’s work

Understood the value and role of the local voluntary, community and faith sector in making Sefton a great place to live and work

Demonstrated a ‘common sense’ approach to working in partnership with the local voluntary, community and faith sector.

Any of which that results in a positive outcome, promotes the benefits of partnership working and makes a difference in the local community.

What is New Realities?

Online Nomination Form

Please provide the name of the individual or department within Sefton Council that you wish to nominate(required)

Please provide a summary of how this individual or department has helped your group and how they demonstrate the principles of the New Realities agreement. Please include as much information as possible (max. 600 words)

Your Name

Your Group / Organisation (if applicable)

Email Address

Phone Number

Would you be happy for Sefton CVS to share details of your nomination as part of the New Realities Case Studies and ongoing work? (Please note: personal details will not be shared)

Do you have some spare time on your hands during the school holidays or any evenings or weekends free? Would you be interested in helping disabled youngsters have fun in inclusive settings across Sefton?

If so you could really make a difference to peoples’ lives. As part of Sefton Council’s Year of the Volunteer campaign, we are encouraging residents to consider volunteering for Aiming High. This is a very important service which gives support to children and young people with disabilities and their families.

All year round the dedicated team provide specially tailored sessions which young people can access. This includes sport activities, outside play, music, dance and so much more!

As we approach the school summer holidays, Aiming High are looking for more volunteer helpers for their summer programme which is packed full of fun and engaging things to do.

This will be a great experience for anyone who wants to join in and have some fun with amazing young people and staff.

It’s also an excellent opportunity for school leavers or students who want to work in a similar field such as social care, teaching or as a sports instructor.

Don’t worry about your experience as full training is given. If you’re interested and want further information contact the Aiming High team on 0151 288 6816

Check out our featured video below with the Aiming High team. We caught up with Laura Cunningham who has been one of our amazing volunteers. She helps out twice a week in our after school club for children with severe learning difficulties. She has now gained employment with Aiming High for the summer programme.

Sefton Council has received initial National Lottery support for the Southport Townscape Heritage Project.

The Council managed to beat off fierce competition from 23 other submitted bids nationally to be one of only 5 areas within the UK awarded the grant.

The grant (which is made possible by National Lottery players), will fund a project which aims to:

• Enhance the quality and strength of the linkages between the town centre and the Seafront so that the two become better integrated
• Increase the levels of economic activity within the target area to reduce the number of vacant and underused properties.

The project will focus on historic properties between Lord Street and the Promenade in order to complement the previously awarded Heritage Lottery Funded restoration of Kings Gardens and the recent £2m award from the Coastal Community funds for the pier.

Development funding of £70,100 has been awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to help Sefton in partnership with Southport BID progress their plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant of £1.6m at a later date, which it is hoped will contribute to a combined funding pot of around £2.4m.

The project aims to carry out essential conservation work, involving structural and external repair of historic buildings; the reinstatement of authentic architectural features (e.g. traditional shopfronts, windows) and works to bring vacant floor space in historic buildings back into use.

The project will also bring community and educational benefits to the town and in conjunction with partners such as Southport Civic Society and education and training providers, will include a programme for promoting the heritage of the town including education, training and skills development for the repair and looking after historic buildings. It is hoped that this will bring about significant volunteer opportunities.

The target area for the project is located within Lord Street and the Promenade Conservation Areas which includes a rich and nationally significant collection of historic buildings, layout and landscaping. This heritage is important to residents, businesses and visitors alike, contributes to the economy of the town as well as giving a strong sense of identity, local pride and community value.

Cllr Daren Veidman, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member Planning and Building Control, said: “Considering we were competing against other local authorities for this funding and how massively oversubscribed it is, the fact we are successful is a testament to the strength of our bid.

“This was a real team effort and involved a lot of hard work with our planning and conservation officers along with partners.

“The project will focus on the areas between Lord Street and the Promenade linking up the town centre with the seafront to build on the recent Heritage Lottery Funded restoration of King’s Gardens and the Coastal Communities Fund of £2m for Southport Pier.

“We strongly believe the money will enhance these links so that the two areas become more integrated while increasing economic activity with the aim of reducing the number of vacant, underused and poorly maintained properties.”

Rob Uffendell, Chair of Southport Business Improvement District, said: “This is a great example of an effective and strong public and private sector partnership working together to attract external funding to Southport.

“BIDs aren’t just about delivering events and organising marketing and promotional campaigns. There is increasing evidence that investors and funding bodies are becoming more attracted to areas where BIDs operate and that has to be good news for the future development of our town”.

Southport Townscape Heritage Project has initially been granted round one development funding of £70,100 by the Heritage Lottery Fund, allowing it to progress with its plans. Detailed proposals are then considered by HLF at second round, where a final decision is made on the full funding award of £1,625,000.

Thousands of culinary explorers are expected to attend the free, three day, annual Southport Food and Drink festival this weekend.

The superb setting of Victoria Park, Southport will host the Sefton Council run festival of fabulous fare and delicious drinks between Friday and Sunday (June 1st-3rd).

Street food stalls serving a variety of international flavours and healthy treats will be tantalising tastebuds throughout the three days.

Foods on offer include crepes, gourmet burgers, hot wings, churros, spiral potatoes, paella and curry, to name just a few of the culinary delights visitors can enjoy.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “Southport Food & Drink Festival is a fabulous event for all the family, with plenty of entertainment taking place alongside a vast international array of food and drink.

“The festival gets bigger and better every year and we look forward to welcoming people of all ages to this superb free event.

“This is just the start of an extensive events programme taking place across our beautiful borough throughout the year which we are very proud of.”

A huge variety of food and drink producers from the region will also set up shop in Victoria Park, showcasing the very best creations imaginable; from Posh Pots to Retro Shots, herbs and spices, to pies and puddings.

The atmosphere is brought alive with live music throughout the day, including a children’s festival where circus workshops, food themed activities and more to keep little ones will be entertained all day long.

Southport Food and Drink Festival runs from 10am-6pm between Friday June 1st and Sunday June 3rd.

Volunteer Centre Sefton will be holding a Volunteer Fair at the Atkinson on Lord Street in the town from 11am until 3pm on Tuesday 6th June, as part of Sefton Council’s 2018 Sefton’s Year of the Volunteer initiative.

Volunteer Centre Sefton – which is part of Sefton CVS – has more than 40 years’ experience of helping local people to find the right volunteering roles, as well as offering advice to organisations who are looking to recruit volunteers.

Information on a wide range of opportunities will be available at the Volunteer Fair, from groups seeking green-fingered residents for gardening projects to organisations looking for people who can support families in crisis or ex-offenders.

Representatives will also be attending from Citizens Advice Sefton, Parenting 2000, Home-Start Southport and Formby and Merseyside Offender Mentoring.

Mike Howlett, Volunteer Centre Sefton’s Senior Citizenship and Volunteering Officer, said: “At this event we’ll be looking for people to join our existing volunteers in the borough who do such a fantastic job in terms of helping to improve the lives of thousands of local people.

“As well as being a good way to meet new people, volunteering can be tailored to the lifestyle of each individual – what you do, where you do it and how much time you give is totally up to you.

“We’re hoping for a very good turnout at this Volunteer Fair at the Atkinson. Our message to everyone is that communities across Sefton need your knowledge, skills and commitment.”

Anyone unable to attend the event who would like information about the opportunities on offer can get in touch with Volunteer Centre Sefton on 0151 920 0726 or email info@volunteeringsefton.org.uk.

Come along and meet Sefton Council’s newly formed ‘Green Sefton’ team who will be taking to the borough on June 8 to support World Oceans Day.

Green Sefton brings together Coast & Countryside, Parks & Greenspaces, Flooding & Coastal Erosion, Risk Management and Grounds Maintenance teams all together to ensure a joined up approach to the vital management, development and oversight of Sefton’s beautiful coastline, parks and green spaces for years to come.

The hugely successful Wave Rave pool parties are set to make a return along with a wide array of pool-based activities including swim and splash sessions, inflatable parties and the preschool swim crash course. Those looking to try something new can make the most of the water sports on offer at Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre during its Lakeside Adventure sessions.

For those looking to stay dry over half term, Be Active’s May-hem days will include obstacle courses, adventure games, tournaments, dodgeball and maybe even a bouncy castle!

The ever popular Everton Soccer School will return to Netherton Activity Centre and Football Camp will launch at Dunes Splash World in Southport. Sefton’s sportiest youngsters can also try their hand at gymnastics, fencing and archery thanks to Be Active’s Come and Try classes.

Fans of The Greatest Showman will love the dance workshops that are lined up with the opportunity to learn new, choreographed dance routines from the hit musical.

Sefton and Knowsley Council are teaming up as part of an annual celebration of fostering, raising awareness to attract more would be foster carers.

Organised by national charity The Fostering Network, Foster Care Fortnight takes place May 14th – 27th, with this year’s theme of ‘fostering transforms lives’.

Under the banner of #StayTogether, Sefton and Knowsley will be taking the ‘Fostering bus’ on the road to meet the public and give them all of the information they need to consider fostering, especially for sibling groups where there is the greatest need.

The ‘Fostering bus’ reaches Sefton on May 18th, 9am-6pm at Aintree Shopping Park.

Cllr. John Joseph Kelly, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Safeguarding said:

“Fostering really can change a child’s life. Foster carers offer supportive, caring and firm foundations to our vulnerable children and young; it is a hugely rewarding role. I would encourage anyone who is thinking about fostering to jump aboard the fostering bus and find out more”

Sefton Council’s fostering teams will also deliver the latest instalment of their popular information evenings shortly after Foster Care Fortnight. The next session, which are free, non-ticket events, will take place June 5th, 6.30-8.30pm at The Vincent Hotel in Southport.

Sefton 4 Good is pleased to announce that our latest round of grant funding, ‘Volunteering 4 Good’, is still open!

As part of the Year of the Volunteer 2018 campaign, Sefton Council, Sefton CVS and Living Well Sefton have teamed up with Sefton 4 Good to launch a special grant initiative specifically aimed at groups and organisations who work with volunteers.

Well Sefton, the project dedicated to creating a brighter Bootle, has prepared a raft of activities aimed at spreading the love this Pay It Forward Day.

Pay It Forward Day is a worldwide movement that promotes random acts of kindness with the idea that those who experience an act of kindness pass it on to others.

Well Sefton has planned a series of activities that will embrace the power of giving and hopes to encourage the people of Bootle to spread the love among the community that will take place from Thursday, April 26 to Saturday, April 28.

Tails will be wagging with the launch of a brand new smartphone campaign from Sefton Council Good Dogs Code.

The Sefton Good Dog Code has launched a series of QR codes which will be displayed across parks, beaches and main roads in Sefton to encourage good and responsible dog ownership in the borough.

The interactive smartphone adverts are simple to use. After taking a photo of the code on a phone camera, users are directed to the Sefton Good Dog Code website which details how dog owners can encourage others to be responsible for their pets.

Local residents and dog lovers have worked alongside Sefton in the creation of the Code, which tells residents to clean up after their pets, respect those who don’t like dogs, follow the rules and ensure their dog is socialized before it mingles with other dogs.

“Along with the poster and flyers, we’ll now be placing QR codes around our parks, coastal areas and cemeteries which links to the online version of the Good Dog Code.

“There are plenty of ways you can be a responsible dog owner, from making sure you clean up after your pets to respecting none-dog lovers.

“Unfortunately some dog owners are not responsible and have no regard for their community. For these few, legislation is tough on them.

“Enforcement action such as fixed penalties and possible court action can be taken against these dog owners.”

Lyn Hilton the founder of local volunteer group ‘Sefton Dogs’ added: “What began as a campaign to ensure that our dogs could enjoy off lead experience at the beach and on our local nature reserves changed into a volunteer movement which aims for a friendly, informed and responsible approach to dog ownership in Sefton.”

Since July 2017, Sefton has had a Public Space Protection Order across the borough with informs dog owners about certain rules which must be followed.

Sefton Council’s Highway Safety team are to hold a senior’s road safety event in Crosby Village.

Road users over the age of 60 are invited to attend the event at St Helen’s Church, Alexandra Road, Crosby on Tuesday 27th March at 10am.

Sefton’s Highways Team are hoping to use this event to promote safer use of the highway.

This is the latest in a series of senior road user events which have been taking place across Sefton over the last three years.

Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Locality Services, said: “Over the last few years there have been an increasing number of casualties involving the over 60s age group in collisions across Merseyside.

“That’s why our Highway Safety team at Sefton Council want to use these types of events to proactively promote safer use of the roads for both pedestrians and motorists.

“The aim is to highlight road safety issues that may affect road users over the age of 60 such as diminishing eyesight, medications and how their driving is affected.”

Guest speakers at the event will include representatives from Merseyside Police, Mersey Fire & Rescue Service, Specsavers and local health clinicians.

Lunch, as well as refreshments, will be provided free of charge for those attending, however places are limited and booking is essential.

As part of the Year of the Volunteer 2018 campaign, Sefton Council and Sefton CVS have teamed up with Sefton 4 Good to launch a special grant initiative specifically aimed at groups and organisations who work with volunteers.

Following on from the huge success of the Year of the Coast, the tireless work of Sefton’s thousands of volunteers will be celebrated in a yearlong campaign to raise awareness of how much volunteers do for the borough.

Sefton 4 Good have launched an online crowdfunding appeal to raise funds for a dedicated grants initiative called Volunteering 4 Good. The initiative has been given a kickstart from Sefton 4 Good funds and Sefton MBC’s Transition Fund, and the more money we raise through crowdfunding means that more groups and organisations will benefit for this year-long initiative.

The Volunteering 4 Good grants will be open to groups later this year with the aim of developing local volunteer-involving projects, and we hope to raise funds to increase the amount of money available to Sefton groups.

Ability Plus is a new forum which aims to provide a voice to people living with a disability in the borough of Sefton. The aims of Ability Plus will combine the purposes of previous groups Sefton Access Form and The Ability Network to become a vehicle for anyone wanting to consult or engage with Sefton’s disabled community to get a better understanding of the needs of disabled people and the experiences they have of services. Members will also have the chance to share their experiences with other members of Ability Plus.

Ability Plus is a pan disability network, meaning it is open and represents people of all disabilities. Members of Ability Plus are all experts by experience, and will act as a critical friends to services across the borough giving feedback on their services and the experiences disabled people have.

The overall aim of Ability Plus is to make Sefton accessible, safe and welcoming to any disabled people living, working or visiting Sefton. Ability Plus is supported by Sefton Council and Sefton CVS.

You are invited to the first meeting of Ability Plus which will take place at Bootle Town Hall on Monday 19th February at 1.30pm. At the meeting, we will discuss the terms of reference for the group and agree the scope of future meetings – we hope to see you there.

If you have any queries about Ability Plus, or would like to attend the meeting, please contact Paul McCann on 0151 934 3202 or Paul.McCann@sefton.gov.uk

Sefton’s youngest residents are in for a half-term filled with fun and games as the ever popular Be Active programme returns in February.

With activities catering for children from reception age to 12-years-old, Be Active’s programme is available at leisure centres across the borough.

February Fun Day’s will see children take part in a number of enjoyable and challenging activities including obstacle courses, adventure games and dodgeball.

School of Rock dance mash-up workshops will give Sefton’s young performers the chance to learn new choreographed dance routines inspired by their favourite films and songs. There will also be the opportunity to take part in singing and enjoy dance and drama based games.

Be Active will also be taking advantage of the new and improved swimming facilities across the borough with a range of pool-based activities on the cards including a Wave Rave pool party complete with disco lights, music and pool dye.

Sefton’s youngsters can also take a break from dry land and enjoy the perks that come with living on the coast at Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre where they can have a go at water sports including bell-boating, raft building and climbing.

The ever popular Everton Soccer School will also be returning to the sports-filled line-up catering for future sports stars of all abilities.

In a bid to get more young people into different sports, Sefton Council is running a number of ‘Come and Try Sessions’. The classes cover a range of activities, including archery, gymnastics and fencing.

“It is wonderful to see so many activities on offer across Sefton that are not only fun, but also provide fantastic opportunities for Sefton’s young residents to try out new things and learn exciting new skills.

“I look forward to seeing another packed half term of activities across Sefton!”

Entries are now open for the Sefton Community Triathlon which will take place on April 29th 2018.

Sefton Council is working with Epic Events to launch the event which, as well as the triathlon, will also include music, entertainment, stalls and other activities for the family.

Open to both children (aged 8+) and adults, it’s the perfect opportunity for novices to experience their first ever triathlon. The distance for the adult event will be a 200m swim in Crosby pool, a 6km cycle on grass and a 2400m run along the prom. Distances are shorter for children.

Active Sefton has put together a timetable of swim, cycle and run activities taking place throughout the borough to help those who need some extra training support.

The swim section of the event will be held at Crosby Leisure Centre’s swimming pool before athletes complete the cycle course on grass followed by the running element of the race which will take place along the prom.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “It’s great to see that sporting events like a triathlon are on offer in Sefton.

“The Sefton Community Triathlon will offer beginners the chance to try their hand at an incredible sporting feat and where better to do it than on our wonderful coast.

Leading health figures from Sefton Council, NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG have joined together to offer expert advice to residents on how they can best avoid catching the flu this winter.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “Flu can have really serious effects for many vulnerable people including the elderly, young children, pregnant women and those living with long term health conditions.

“For this reason the following advice also includes tips that will help residents to limit the spread of flu within their community and I strongly urge everybody to take the advice on board.”

Dr Rob Caudwell, chair of NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said: “People with chronic long term health conditions or reduced immunity should get vaccinated even if they have no symptoms. A bout of flu can greatly worsen any existing condition and increases the risk of complications like pneumonia.”

Dr Andy Mimnagh, chair of NHS South Sefton CCG added: “A flu vaccination is an important part of staying well over winter. If you have any questions about getting vaccinated, simply contact your GP practice and ask for advice, we’ll be happy to help.”

Get the flu jabThe best way to protect yourself and others from flu is by getting the flu vaccination. The vaccination is free for those aged over 65, pregnant women, people living with long term health conditions, young children aged 2 and 3 and to registered carers.If you’re not eligible for a free vaccination you can purchase it for as little as £10. Speak to your local pharmacist for find out more about this service.

Know the symptomsIt’s important to be aware of the symptoms of flu in order to help you to best treat its effects and avoid passing the illness on to others.Symptoms include a sudden fever, aching body, feeling tired or exhausted, chesty cough, sore throat, headache, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, diarrhoea or tummy pain, nausea and being sick.

Get the right adviceIf you think you may have the flu try to avoid visiting your GP or pharmacist to reduce the risk of spreading the illness. Instead call the free NHS helpline service 111 or visit the NHS Choices website.Be sure stock up on flu and cold remedies in advance so that if you become ill you have everything you need at home. Remember that antibiotics should not be used to treat flu and should only be used upon the advice of your GP.

Wash your handsWashing your hands regularly using soap and warm water will help you to prevent the spread of germs that can cause flu. By washing your hands you will destroy bugs that you may have picked up from touching surfaces used by other people, such as light switches and door handles.Not only will this reduce the chances of you catching the flu yourself, but it will also help to limit the spread of flu across Sefton.

Be mindful of othersTry to avoid having unnecessary contact with other people if you or they have symptoms of flu.If you think you have symptoms of flu be mindful of the people around you. Catch coughs or sneezes in tissues and bin them immediately. Try to reschedule plans with friends or family to when you’re feeling better.Remember that while many people can recover from flu themselves within about a week, it can become extremely serious for more vulnerable residents.

Homelessness charity Emmaus Merseyside is on the hunt for local volunteers to support its community and charity shops in Sefton and Liverpool.

The charity has a number of roles available covering retail, admin, social media, upcycling, furniture repair, gardening and van driving. Emmaus is looking for individuals with suitable skills and experience, as well as a commitment to volunteer at least one day per week.

Emily Oldnall, aged 23 and from Crosby, is a volunteer admin assistant helping at Emmaus Merseyside’s community building and has been giving her time to the charity for the past 18 months.

Emily said: “The Emmaus Merseyside community is only down the road from where I live so I thought I’d get in touch and see what the role was about. I come each week doing research, sourcing products, keeping records updated and any other admin duties I can help with. I like being part of the Emmaus community and feel like I’m giving something back to charity.”

Emmaus Merseyside supports formerly homeless people by providing a stable home and meaningful work for as long as they need it. The charity runs three social enterprises in Merseyside, taking in and selling donated and refurbished furniture, household goods, bric-a-brac and vintage pieces.

Angela Quinn, Business Manager at Emmaus Merseyside, said: “Our local volunteers are a much valued part of the Emmaus Merseyside team. We’re keen to expand the range of roles we offer and hopefully there are opportunities that will appeal to all ages, skills and interests. If you would like to get involved then get in touch or visit us to see first-hand what we’re all about.”

Emmaus Merseyside offers all volunteers an opportunity to develop their skills and gain experience for a worthwhile cause. Training is offered where possible and all volunteers receive dinner and travel expenses on the days that they volunteer.

To find out more about the roles on offer at Emmaus Merseyside visit the ‘Get involved’ section at www.emmaus.org.uk/merseyside. If you would like to apply to become a volunteer, please call 0151 928 1588 or visit the visit the Emmaus Charity Superstore at 38 Sandy Road, Seaforth, Sefton L21 3TW.

Sefton Council, in partnership with the Volunteer Centre Sefton and Sefton CVS, is dedicating 2018 as the Year of the Volunteer!

Following on from the huge success of the Year of the Coast, the tireless work of Sefton’s thousands of volunteers, who give an astonishing 116,000 hours of their time each week, will be celebrated in a yearlong campaign to raise awareness of how much volunteers do for the borough.

Sefton Council has listened to its communities and is recommending not to create three Family Wellbeing Centres at this time following overwhelming public feedback.

The Council had been consulting on proposals to have three integrated family and children centre bases for children and young people from 0 to 19 and their families.

More than 1,600 people gave their views during the consultation and the Council held 15 public engagement events. While the majority were in favour of a more joined up approach for a new service through a whole family approach to cover ages from pre-birth to 19 year olds in order, they were not in favour of having three main centres.

Cllr John Joseph Kelly, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Safeguarding, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to every person who has taken time to respond to this consultation.

“We have taken great care in listening to our communities and all along we have been clear that we would listen to people’s views. As a result of this valuable feedback, we will consider changing our plans and are recommending that all the existing children and family centres remain open, but will cover support for 0-19 year olds, expand outreach and provide early help services. This will allow us to be more joined up and still make the most of the money that we have available to ensure support for those most in need. It will complement the work we’re doing to transform the way we provide early intervention and prevention services.”

However, due to significant reductions in Government funding over the last few years, the Council has had to make some tough decisions. In order to retain the centres within their current bases and to keep within the available budget, the Council acknowledges it will not be possible to provide the same level of activity within the centres.

In a report going to Cabinet on December 7, the Council is highlighting this issue and is recommending to change the way it provides funding to the children’s and family centres going forward.

This proposal would mean that the allocated monies will be prioritised on providing services that support parents, carers and all children regardless of age.

If the recommendations are approved, the Council will work closely with schools on the impact of the funding changes, as there would also be likely implications for employees of both the Council and those employed by schools.

Read about Sefton Council’s decision in full at the Agenda for Cabinet on 7 December.

More than half of primary school teachers say they do not feel adequately trained in supporting pupils with mental health problems, research suggests. Just one in 10 “strongly agreed” with the statement that they felt they had the necessary training to feel confident about what action to take when a child was experiencing a mental health problem, compared with 54% who disagreed.

Mental Resilience is not something that people either have or do not – resilience is learnable and teachable and as we learn we increase the range of strategies available to us when things get difficult. Sefton Council is working with the charity YoungMinds to improve mental resilience in schools. 28 schools have joined a training session to support schools to improve the mental resilience of pupils, staff and parents.

The men of Sefton are being encouraged to step in if they think their friend is acting differently than usual.

This comes as research released by Time to Change, the campaign run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, shows that most men would be comfortable supporting a friend with a mental health problem – but there are still barriers for some.

Southport residents, local organisations and health service users are welcome to drop-in see the latest design visuals for the town’s new mental health hospital prior to construction starting here this autumn.